National Photographic Record: prints by Walter Bird, 1958-67
1338 Portraits in set
The National Photographic Record began in 1917, during the First World War, at the instigation of Walter Stoneman, the chief photographer for the long established firm of Russell & Sons. A selected range of eminent people of the day were invited to make an appointment to sit at Stoneman's studio and from each sitting a mounted print was added to the NPR. Reproduction fees from the publication of any of these photographs were shared between the photographer and the National Portrait Gallery. The collection was made for record purposes only, with no intention of the results being exhibited. Despite controversy caused by working exclusively with one selected photographer, the collection of postcard-sized prints of eminent people of the day grew over the years to an archive of over 10,000 subjects. Each year approximately 200 new subjects were added to an alphabetical sequence now housed in 436 boxes and viewable by appointment. Stoneman was succeeded, on his retirement and death, by Walter Bird (active 1958-1967), and then by Godfrey Argent (active 1967-1970). In addition, the Gallery also holds approximately 10,000 NPR whole- and half-plate glass negatives taken between 1917 and 1958, arranged chronologically, which consist of up to five alternative poses taken at the NPR sitting.
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1949
NPG x159758
Robert Hugh Turton, Baron Tranmire of Upsall
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1949
NPG x185762
Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma
by Walter Bird
bromide print on card mount, 1950s
NPG x28757
Sir Frederick Robertson Parham
by Walter Bird
bromide print, July 1950
NPG x169808
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1951
NPG x33860
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1954
NPG x167699
Philip Le Marchant Stonhouse Stonhouse-Gostling
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1954
NPG x185506
Sir Alexander Colin Burlington Symon
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1956
NPG x185578
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x163479
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x163554
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x165406
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x165614
by Walter Bird
bromide print on card mount, 1957
NPG x166897
Gerald Chester Kearley, 2nd Viscount Devonport
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x167119
Mary Alice (née Gascoyne-Cecil), Duchess of Devonshire
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x167122
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x167397
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x167709
Christopher Grey Tennant, 2nd Baron Glenconner
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x167824
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x168194
Kenneth James William Mackay, 3rd Earl of Inchcape
by Walter Bird
bromide print, 1957
NPG x168534